People often wonder if kratom is an opioid, narcotic, or hard drug. The first thing to understand is that kratom is simply a member of the coffee family. It’s a natural herb that has been used in Southeast [...]

Highlights from SHP/BAPP Webinar on Sourcing and Quality  Below are key points from SHP Director Ann Armbrecht’s conversation with medicinal plant researchers Prof. Michael Heinrich, PhD, and Anthony Booker, PhD. Dr. Heinrich is Professor of Ethnopharmacology and Medicinal [...]

In addition to the usual herbal gifts of herbal wreaths, vinegars, soaps, candles, spices, potted plants, flowers, beauty products and more, there are two other to consider this holiday season. Teasel Teasel is such a fabulous herb to [...]

Miscarriage takes a toll on a family. There are physical effects and emotional effects that occur after a miscarriage that is complex, deep, and slow to heal. Luckily, genetic counseling can offer help and support during this journey.  [...]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwsvNITurdc   As a microcosm of nature, the human body contains the cosmos within it. By developing a deep understanding of the ways in which the patterns, rhythms, and cycles of nature intimately affect the human body [...]

I’m not sure what it is about winter, but when dinner rolls around, I’m either motivated to cook healthy meals for my family or too tired to bother, which means I’m looking for quick, healthy winter dinner recipes [...]

Treatment Consultation with an infectious disease specialist is highly recommended when caring for patients with C. auris infection. Even after treatment for invasive infections, patients generally remain colonized with C. auris for long periods, and perhaps indefinitely. Therefore, all recommended infection control measures should [...]

Kratom users are very special types of people. Some pretty accurate statements can be made about those who use kratom. Here are some general observations about kratom fans. Not everyone will fit into these categories, but it seems [...]

“Dutjahn (Australian sandalwood, Santalum Spicatum) is more than a sacred plant to the Martu and Wongi Nations, it is part of our soul and a key link to our spiritual identity.” — Darren Farmer, Chairman of Dutjahn Custodians, [...]

My journey with plants began in grade school after learning about the importance of trees.  As a result I planted a tree annually on Arbor Day.  By the time I left home in my early 20’s, to move [...]

Sexual problems are part of everyday life for couples. Stress, lack of communication, arguments can encourage a distance in bed and often sexual impotence. The conflict lies when, because of this erectile dysfunction, the nerves continue to play [...]

The winter solstice marks the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. Although the days grow brighter and longer once it passes, the darkness of winter can weigh heavy on the hearts of many.  With herbs [...]

Umm, there’s nothing better on a cold winter day than a warm cup of spicy tea. Wouldn’t you agree? Here’s the thing though. While I love me some chai, sometimes I’m in the mood for something else — [...]

COVID-19 Updates - The Most Recent Information Omicron Causes Less Lung Damage The Omicron variant appears to cause less damage to the lungs compared with other variants. Recently released studies with mice and hamsters show the Omicron variant [...]

Kratom provides basically everything we need, in most cases, on most days. What about bad days? Aromatherapy may be just what is needed for times of symptom flare-ups, or just a novel way to enhance our health, happiness, [...]

by Ann Armbrecht Where Plants Come From I invite you to pause for a moment. Take a deep breath. Pause. Take another. Settle into your seat, feel it supporting you. Feel the ground beneath your feet, supporting you. [...]

Teasel is a beautiful herb with a tall bristly head that grows in many places around the world. I once saw multitudes of dried teasel heads in a wool combing machine in Scotland in the 1990s. However, this [...]

A familiar sight in fields, the Oxeye Daisy is found throughout Britain, Europe and Russian Asia. Where it was introduced to North America, the plant spread so rapidly that North Carolina adopted it as the state flower.Its former [...]

Erectile dysfunction is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse and is also sometimes referred to as male impotence. Many men experience times of stress. However, erectile dysfunction can be a sign [...]

January days can feel long, so we often have to get creative in how we bring joy into our day. For me, music is one of those things that helps to lift my spirits and set (or shift) [...]

The New GMO Bioengineered Food Rule Labeling Is Now Mandatory As Of January 1, 2022 The US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) published a final rule on December 21, 2018, implementing the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard (NBFDS). However, [...]

Kratom (mitragyna speciosa) and patchouli have a few things in common. Kratom and patchouli both are important crops of Indonesia. Some say that Indonesian kratom is the best, and Indonesian patchouli also is the most desirable. Patchouli of [...]

We are thrilled to share the Sustainable Herbs Program podcast. This is a no frills collection of the conversations hosted during the Sustainable Herbs Program Ethnobotany and Toolkit webinar series. These conversations are filled with a wealth of [...]

I grew up in a small town in New England. My soul was at home in the hardwood forests and in the arts, singing, dancing, playing music, sewing, drawing and painting. I moved to Chicago and trained in [...]

Marriage/Relationship/Sex Advice By many health experts, the gut is called the “second brain.” This is due to its massive influence in various areas of mental health, including sexual health. And since probiotics have restorative power on the organ, [...]